Abstract
Recent studies have revealed extensive genetic variations among Neospora caninum, a cyst-forming protozoan parasite that is one of the main causes of bovine abortion in the cattle industry worldwide. Previous genetic studies based on multilocus microsatellite genotyping (MLGs) of different Ibero-American populations showed a high genetic diversity. These studies provided clear clues of a predominant clonal propagation in cattle and population sub-structuring partially associated with geographical origin. Although, these reports were limited to a reduced number of countries. In this study, the N. caninum isolates from aborted bovine fetuses and stillbirths and a goat abortion from Northern Italy were investigated genetically using 9 microsatellite markers. Complete or nearly complete isolate profiles were obtained from 30 fetuses and stillbirths. An extensive genetic diversity was also found in this Italian N. caninum population. The study of genetic relationships among Italian MLGs using network (eBURST) and principal component analyses based on the allele-sharing coefficient (PCoA) showed different clonal subpopulations disseminated throughout Northern Italy without apparent segregation depending on the geographic origin, cattle breed, or time of collection. The presence of linkage disequilibrium supports a predominant clonal propagation of Italian N. caninum. In addition, most of Italian MLGs segregated from other global populations including Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, and Scotland, suggesting the existence of specific N. caninum subpopulations in the Northern Italy and different subpopulations of N. caninum circulating in Europe.
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Funding
This project was financed by the Community of Madrid and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund (PLATESA2-CM P2018/BAA-4370).
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NA, ES, and LC conducted the sampling and PCR detection, and data collection. JRC and PH carried out sample genotyping and genetic analyses. JRC and PH interpreted the genotyping data. JRC, PH, and LMOM wrote the paper. NA, LC, and ES discussed and commented the manuscript.
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Section Editor: Larissa Howe
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Table S1
Multilocus microsatellite genotyping database including the Argentinean, Brazilian, Italian, Mexican, Spanish, Scottish and German MLGs was used for the genetic relationship analyses in this study. (DOCX 37 kb)
Table S2
Linkage equilibrium and disequilibrium in Italian Neospora caninum populations (DOCX 18.3 kb)
Fig. S1
Relationships among the Neospora caninum MLGs estimated by the eBURST analysis. Each complete MLG is represented by a dot. MLG dots were also colored according to their geographical origin (see legend). The dot diameter is proportional to the number of samples with identical MLG (see legend). Single locus variants (SLV) are connected by purple lines and double loci variants (DLV) by blue lines. MLGs clusters (n>3 MLGs) are represented: Group 1 to 5. Singletons were excluded from the snapshot representation. (PPTX 346 kb)
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Regidor-Cerrillo, J., Horcajo, P., Ceglie, L. et al. Genetic characterization of Neospora caninum from Northern Italian cattle reveals high diversity in European N. caninum populations. Parasitol Res 119, 1353–1362 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06642-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06642-2